Chapter 1

I was the fiancée of Lucas Grant, Veloria's golden boy. I had always had incredible luck.

With my luck backing him, he took over four rival companies in only three years.

But at the engagement party, he wrapped his arm around my stand-in and sneered, "You're a clingy parasite who can't survive without a man. You're not worthy of the Grant family."

My stand-in smirked, looking smug as she mocked me for trying to climb the social ladder.

I just laughed and slipped off my lucky bracelet right then and there. "Alright, I'm taking my luck back."

Less than ten minutes after I walked out of the hall, the Grant family's office caught fire, and their stock crashed.

Once he realized what was happening, Lucas started calling me like a madman.

I blew a breath into the phone and said, "Hey, you know what? Bad luck can actually kill you."

*****

"You're a clingy parasite who can't survive without a man. You're not worthy of the Grant family." Lucas's voice rang out across the bustling hall, echoing in my ears.

He had his arm wrapped around Emily Lane, my former best friend.

Emily looked downright smug, not even bothering to hide it.

The gown she wore was my own design. She said she loved it, so I gifted it to her.

Today was my engagement party with Lucas. I was meant to be the star tonight.

The guests around me stared with all kinds of looks. Some pitied me, some mocked me, but most were there for the entertainment.

Lucas kept going, his voice icy. "Lila, we're done. I love Emily. She's independent and strong, not like you. You always rely on a man to protect you."

Emily leaned into Lucas's arms, her voice loud enough for everyone to catch it. "Lucas, don't be so harsh on Lila. She's always lucky. Unlike me, I had to fight for everything myself."

Her words sparked a ripple of low chuckles from the crowd.

I watched them, my expression unreadable.

Three years ago, the Grant family was on the verge of bankruptcy. A wandering mystic told my parents that I was the reincarnation of good luck itself. Anyone close to me would have their fortune boosted.

When the Grants heard that, they showed up with a fortune, begging me to marry into their family.

That was when they tied a lucky bracelet around my wrist. The old mystic said it would bind our luck together.

From that day on, the Grant family's business took off like a rocket. In a few short years, Lucas swallowed up four rival companies and became the undisputed golden boy of Veloria.

Meanwhile, I was only his secret fiancée, always hiding in the shadows.

Meanwhile, I was only his secret fiancée, always kept in the shadows. He thought I was an embarrassment, that I wasn't worthy of him. To him, I was nothing more than a lucky charm, a prop he pulled out when it suited him.

I looked at him, and a sudden smile broke out on my face. "Lucas, you really want to do this?"

Lucas frowned. "What's so funny? How shameless."

Emily gently pulled on his arm. "Lucas, maybe Lila's only flustered."

I lifted my hand and looked at the lucky bracelet wrapped around my wrist. After three years, it felt like part of my skin.

I grabbed the end of the bracelet with my other hand and yanked hard. The red string tore free, streaked with blood as it ripped from my wrist. An angry, bloody mark was left on my skin. It hurt like hell.

But my smile only got sharper. I threw the blood-stained bracelet onto the floor. "I'm taking my luck back. Lucas, best wishes to you two.

With that, I turned and walked away.

Lucas was frozen, totally caught off guard.

Emily's expression changed, her confidence slipping.

No one tried to stop me. They all thought I was throwing a tantrum. After all, a so-called clingy parasite like me had nowhere to go without a man.

I walked out of the hall. Behind me, one of the wires holding up the crystal chandelier snapped. A deafening crash rang out, and women started screaming in shock.